The impact of the functions of the Goddess Ashi on women in Shahnameh

Ashi is one of the most significant mythological goddesses in Iran.  In texts such as Avesta, Yasht, and Yasnas she is associated with different attributes namely, granting fortunes to Iranians ( association with wealth and blessing), helping friends, bringing horse and blessings from foreign lands to Iranians, connection with women and their influence over them.  Since Shahnameh has a mythological substructure one can witness the reflection of functions and the characteristics of the mythological figures in certain characters of Shahnameh tales.  A fine example is the impact of Ashi’s functions on the  performance of influential and outstanding women in Shahnameh.  Using the descriptive analytic method this study is an attempt to compare the deeds of women such as Faranak, Farangis, Jarireh, Homay Chehrazad, Rumi Kanizak, and Pourandokht with the outstanding characteristic features of the goddess Ashi.  The results obtained show that their deeds are the repetition of Ashi’s actions and missions.  In fact these women are the repetition of the mythological image of Ashi in the Shahnameh text.  Reflection upon the characteristics of the above mentioned women reveal that among the different deeds of Ashi, confering fortune and blessing are the main attributes reaching these women, and more often these rewards are in conncection with kingdom or coming into power of a king or a warrior.